The Golden Wedding Anniversary of the Duke and Duchess d’Orléans

On 3 August 1969, Prince Jacques d’Orléans (b.25 June 1941) religiously wed Gersende de Sabran-Pontevès (b.29 July 1942) at Ansouis. The couple’s civil marriage had occurred the prior day. Jacques was the eighth child of the late Count and Countess of Paris. Gersende was the only daughter of Foulques de Sabran-Pontevès (1908-1973), 7th Duc de Sabran, and Roselyne Manca-Amat de Vallombrosa (1910-1988). Gersende wore a wedding gown by Yves Saint Laurent.

 

Jacques d’Orléans and Gersende de Sabran-Pontevès had first met in the Spring of 1968 at the bride’s family home, Château d’Ansouis. A petite blonde and a talented pianist, Gersende seems to have quickly attracted the attentions of the Orléans prince. The Count and Countess of Paris then invited Gersende to vacation with their family at Cintra.

 
 
The engagement of Prince Jacques d’Orléans and Mademoiselle Gersende de Sabran-Pontevès was announced on 5 October 1968. The father of the fiancé granted his son the title “Duc d’Orléans.”
 
 
The Duke and Duchess d’Orléans have three children: Princess Diane (b.1970), Prince Charles-Louis (b.1972), and Prince Foulques (b.1974).
 
For further news and articles about Europe’s Gotha families, join Eurohistory!